St. Ignace elementary and middle school student Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) classroom proficiency exceeded state averages in mathematics, board of education members learned at their meeting Monday, April 13. Writing scores fell below average at the lower grade levels, however, so improvement goals will be developed to bring those scores up.

The school board also accepted the resignation of Karen Sanborn and learned that the high school will remain a Class C school in athletics next year, having just 10 students above the Class D cutoff.

The MEAP test, which assesses student performance from third grade to eighth grade, was administered last fall and measures skills taught to students the previous year. Students are tested on mathematics, reading, writing, science, social studies, and English language arts, which is a combination of reading and writing.

The percentage of St. Ignace students testing proficient in writing fell most below the state average in the third and fourth grades, although 100% of the third graders are proficient in the mathematics area of the test.

Karen Sanborn, who teaches business, accounting, and computer applications at the high school, will retire at the end of the school year. She has been a full-time teacher at the school for 13 years and worked part-time for five years prior to that.

LaSalle High School will remain a class C school for the coming school year. The school reported 233 students during the February count. The cutoff between class D and class C set at 223 students. The classification is determined by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

Preschool will be offered to four-year-olds this fall, funded with a Michigan School Readiness Program grant. The half-day program will be taught by a certified teacher with an early childhood endorsement. Fifteen students from the St. Ignace and Moran Township school districts will be able to participate.

Wendy McCluskey was appointed to the Parent Advisory Committee as the St. Ignace representative. The committee for parents of special education students meets with Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District special education staff.

Students gave a report on their trip to Europe over spring break, led by LaSalle High School English teacher Kathy Schacht. Sixteen students participated.

Sophomore Austin St. Lewis told the board he especially liked visiting the beaches of Normandy, where Allied forces invaded on DDay, June 6, 1944. Senior Jaclyn Wheeldon said her favorite site was London and she passed a photo album among board members.

LaSalle High School Players have begun rehearsing "Blues," a play about homelessness, said Ms. Schacht, the director, and proceeds will be donated to St. Ignace Area Hope and Habitat for Humanity. It will be performed for the community May 3.

In a presentation to the board, Jason Kronemeyer, the Intermediate School District technology director, said his department was formed to provide interactive television classes to member districts and now also provides Internet services. He noted that school districts in the ISD have between 4,000 and 5,000 devices connected to the Internet.

Students Autumn Orm and Michaela North, who joined students from across the country to perform as members of the OAKE National Children's Choir in Washington, D.C. in March, attended Monday's board meeting with their families and music teacher Stephanie Terpening, who worked with the students to prepare for the concert.

LaSalle High School

Superintendent Michael Springsteen announced that Ivy Thurston has been named valedictorian and Michael Wilk salutatorian of the Class of 2009. Miss. Thurston is the daughter of Dave and Marilyn Thurston and has a 4.094 grade point average. Mr. Wilk is the son of Jean Chargo and Mark Wilk and he has a 4.076 grade point average.

The third marking period concluded with 109 of 234 students (47%) making the honor roll. To be on the honor roll, a student must have a B or better average in all courses with no grades D or below. By class, 24 of 59 in ninth grade, 41%, made the honor roll, as did 25 of 63 in tenth grade (41%), 24 of 52 eleventh grade (46%), and 35 of 60 in twelfth grade (58%).

Middle School

Principal Gregg Fettig said students have been participating in spelling bee, science fair, and student led conferences.

For the third marking period, he said, the percentage of student on the honor roll by class include 69% of fifth grade, 58% of sixth grade, 33% of seventh grade, and 53% of eighth grade.

Elementary School

Principal Kari Visnaw said the school is preparing for next fall's kindergarten students with a family night Tuesday, April 14, and registration Monday, April 20.

The school board will meet Monday, May 11, at 7 p.m. in the middle school library.